What is Statewide Significance?

Until 1989, a local preservation commission could deny a certificate of appropriateness for the demolition of a locally designated landmark or property within a locally designated historic district for a maximum of one year. If no preservation solution for the property was negotiated within that time frame, the applicant could proceed with the demolition.

In 1989, G.S. 160D-949 (formerly G.S. 160A-400.14) was amended with the addition of paragraph (c), which reads,

“An application for a certificate of appropriateness authorizing the demolition or destruction of a building, site, or structure determined by the State Historic Preservation Officer [SHPO] as having statewide significance as defined in the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places may be denied except where the commission finds that the owner would suffer extreme hardship or be permanently deprived of all beneficial use or return by virtue of the denial.”

This simple law requires a complex set of procedures to ensure that it is administered in a fair and timely manner and that the SHPO's determinations of the level of significance of a property are fully justified based on clearly delineated criteria. An application to the SHPO for a determination of a property’s statewide significance may be prepared by any interested party but must be submitted to the SHPO by the local historic preservation commission that oversees the locally designated landmark or the local historic district in which the property is located.

For an application and more information regarding Statewide Significance please reach out to Sarah Woodard, Survey and National Register Branch Supervisor, at sarah.woodard@dncr.nc.gov or 919-814-6573.

For all other CLG/ local preservation commission questions please reach out to kristi.brantley@dncr.nc.gov or 919-623-2412.